Stage names:
Nakamura Kichiemon II
Nakamura Mannosuke
Real name: Namino Tatsujirô
Pen name: Matsu Kanshi II
Guild: Harimaya
Line number: NIDAIME (II)
Birthday: 22 May 1944
Connections:
Great-great-grandfather: Nakamura Karoku I
Great-grandfather: Nakamura Karoku III
Grandfathers: Matsumoto Kôshirô VII, Nakamura Kichiemon I
Father: Matsumoto Hakuô (Kôshirô VIII)
Adoptive father: Nakamura Kichiemon I
Brother: Matsumoto Kôshirô IX
Career:
June 1948: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Tôkyô Gekijô, receiving the name of Nakamura Mannosuke.
September 1954: his grandfather (and adoptive father) Nakamura Kichiemon I dies.
January 1961: Mannosuke and his brother Ichikawa Somegorô VI sign exclusive contracts with the Tôhô and leave the Shôchiku, followed in March by Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII, Ichikawa Chûsha VIII and Nakamura Shikaku II.
May 1965: Nakamura Mannosuke takes the name of Nakamura Kichiemon II at the Imperial Theater, playing the roles of Konoshita Tôkichi and Munesada in the dramas "Kinkakuji" and "Seki no To".
December 1966: second month of the opening ceremony of the National Theater with the full length performance of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; Kichiemon plays the role of Umeômaru [casting].
September 1970: Kichiemon plays for the first time the role of Kumagai Naozane in the play "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" (commonly called "Kumagai Jin'ya"), which is performed at the Imperial Theater.
1972: Kichiemon goes back to Shôchiku, after the failure of Tôhô Kabuki.
August 1979: revival at the National Theater Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kanzen Chôaku Nozoki Garakuri"; Kichiemon plays the roles of Murai Chôan and the Iseya bantô Kyûhachi [casting].
June ~ July 1990: Kichiemon takes part in a Kabuki tour in the USA, performing 26 shows in several big cities; he plays the roles of Narukami and Tamanoi in the plays "Narukami" and "Migawari Zazen" [casting]. Kichiemon plays also the role of Benkei in the play "Kanjinchô", which is performed only in Los Angeles.
September 1999: Kichiemon plays for the first time the role of the larger-than-life king of thieves Ishikawa Goemon in the rare jidaimono "Zôho Futatsu Domoe", which is staged at the Kabukiza.
October 1999: premiere at the Kanamaruza of "Tomoe Gozen", a dance created by Matsu Kanshi II (alias Kichiemon).
January 2001: Kichiemon plays at the National Theater the role of Sodehagi, one of the most difficult female roles in the Kabuki repertoire, in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara". Kichiemon successfully overcomes this great challenge.
April 2001: Kichiemon plays for the first time the prestigious and visual role of Taira no Tomomori in the jidaimono "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura", which is staged at the Kabukiza.
October 2001: Kichiemon plays for the first time the role of the wicked Motoemon in the drama "Tengajaya-Mura", which is staged at the National Theater.
April 2003: Kichiemon plays for the first time the role of Watônai in Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Kokusen'ya Gassen", which is staged at the Kabukiza.
September 2003: the Kabukiza commemorates the 49th anniversary (50th memorial service) of the death of his grandfather Nakamura Kichiemon I; Kichiemon plays 2 of his adoptive father's favourite roles, Kôchiyama Sôshun in "Kôchiyama" and Shunkan in "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima".
May 2006: Kichiemon plays at the Shimbashi Embujô the roles of Danshichi Kurobei, Ishikawa Goemon and Beniya Chôbei in the dramas "Natsu Matsuri", "Zôho Futatsu Domoe" and "Shôchikubai Yushima no Kakegaku".
January 2007: Kichiemon receives the 48th Mainichi Performing Arts Awards (2006) and the Special Award of the 6th Asahi Performing Arts Awards (2006).
Comments:
Nakamura Kichiemon II is an amazing tachiyaku and one of the most popular contemporary actors.
"He specializes in the male heroes of jidaimono, the historical plays, and the role of commoner in sewamono, Edo-period dramas. He is especially popular because of his ability to depict the warmth and humanity of these characters. Another role with which he is closely associated is one that he played for ten years in the TV series "Onihei Hankachô". He played Hasegawa Heizô, a government law enforcement officer who is partial to alcohol and has a soft spot for criminals, unless they are murderers. Kichiemon himself admits to feeling a special fondness for this role." (from an article written by Jean Wilson for the website Metropolis)
Nakamura Kichiemon II's best roles : Kôchiyama Sôshun ("Kôchiyama"), Kumagai Jirô Naozane ("Kumagai Jin'ya"), the boatman Matsuemon/Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu ("Hirakana Seisuiki"), Matsuômaru ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami").
Nakamura Kichiemon II playing the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki the drama "Ishikiri Kajiwara" (print made by Yamamoto Hisashi)
Print made by Tsuruya Kôkei in 1988
The Nakamura Kichiemon line of actors